If you have a learning disability, you need to be on the lookout for learning disabilities scholarships that are available. Unfortunately, if you are looking for learning disability specific scholarships, such as ADD scholarships, or ADHD scholarships, you may find that there are very few available. In the past, even finding general learning disabilities scholarships was difficult, because it was assumed that anyone with a learning disability would not be pursuing a college education. Today, nothing could be further from the truth.
Aside from checking for scholarship opportunities at any national organization for learning disabilities, or general disabilities, also check with such organizations in your state, and your state or county vocational rehabilitation organization. Additionally, check with the Student Disabilities Services Department at the school that you will attend, and check with the school itself for scholarships for learning disabilities that may be available.
Finally, check on all learning disabled scholarships offered by civic organizations, such as the Elks Club, including scholarships for learning disabled that are not specifically designated for learning disabled students. Also ask about specific scholarships for learning disabled students as well, so that you don’t miss out on any opportunities. For example, The California-Hawaii Elks Organization offers twenty to thirty learning disability scholarships annually, ranging from $1000 to $2000 each for disabled students. More on this program at learning scholarship program. and be sure to check with the Elks Organization for your own home state as well.
Although there are few scholarships for learning disabilities available for those who have ADD or ADHD, there are many disability specific scholarships that you should check into that cover your specific learning disability – such as Dyslexia Scholarships, including the Anne and Matt Harbison Scholarship, awarded in the amount of $1500.
Although Autism is not necessarily considered a learning disability, because it is a neurological disability, it could be considered a learning disability for the purposes of applying for scholarships for learning disabled. There are, of course, numerous Autism Scholarships available.
The Lilly Reintegration Scholarship is intended for people with bi-polar disorder or other mental disorders, which can lead to learning disabilities as well. The ELA Foundation Scholarship is available for females who have a disability, but it is not clear whether a learning disability will make you eligible for the award or not. In many cases, where the eligibility requirements say ‘disabled student,’ they do not specify what they considered disabled, and you should apply, based on your learning disability. Also note that many non-disabled person scholarships actually will give preference to those students who have a learning disability – and who have shown their ability to work harder than most other students to achieve equal or better academic scores.
At times, you will need to get creative when searching for learning disabilities scholarships, in terms of what other people consider to be a learning disability. Again, check first for specific learning disability scholarships, but then spread out from there, and seek general scholarships for learning disabilities, and scholarships available for those conditions that you have, that may not be considered learning disabilities from a medical standpoint. Leave no stone unturned when it comes to finding scholarships for learning disabled.
Related Reading
- Attention Deficit Disorder ADD Scholarships for College
- College Scholarships for ADHD Students